Parish News Spring 2019 Inside this issue Meet Healeyfield’s new Parish Councillor More details on page2. How Castleside Remembered More details on page 3/4. Big Spring Clean More details on page 4. My name is Alan Wallace and my wife and I live in Castleside, just behind the Horse & Groom on Castlehills. I have recently been co-opted as a Parish Councillor for Healeyfield. Initially from the Stanley area, I have also lived around the UK and overseas, working mostly in construction and project management. While living overseas I supported the British Embassies as a volunteer warden. Embassy Wardens are basically a person who acts as liaison between the Embassy and the UK population; assisting with any local knowledge and helping British Nationals. After finishing my working life we spent a few years living in Spain, about one hour North of Barcelona where I volunteered for a Charity supporting UK passport holders, who were either resident or on holiday in the Girona Province and the nearby Costa Brava. This charity helped those who needed assistance for example following illness while on holiday, day to day support or help attending hospital appointments. Since returning ‘home’ to live, I appreciate the great location of the Healeyfield Parish and Castleside in particular, close to our towns, cities and the countryside. I regularly walk on the footpaths and long distance cycleways that cross the Parish. I also volunteer for both The Woodland Trust, working with a team keeping the Castle Hill Wood open for the many walkers who use that area as well as supporting Age UK County Durham in their ‘Beat the Scammers’ and other projects they have in the Derwentside and Durham areas. I look forward to contributing to the work of the Parish Council as I believe we have a lovely area to live in, a very positive sense of ‘village’ community and a rich history. The Parish Council applied for, and were granted, funds from County Councillors Ossie Johnson and Jude Considine. This grant will fund the renewal and some additional planters. The barrels that were in situ have now been removed to make way for planters that look like stone troughs-they are actually plastic! Two, tiered planters will be situated at the crossroads and some half barrels. These new planters are self watering which makes the care of the plants over the summer months a little easier. Look out for the new additions to the village over the next few months. Castleside Remembered Last November the country commemorated 100 years since the end of the First World War. Healeyfield Parish Council were very keen to participate in this commemoration to thank those who fought in the First World War, and in all of the wars since. With this in mind the Parish Council sought the help of residents and community groups to create a knitted poppy display that would be situated within the grounds of St Johns Church. The response was fantastic, we had knitted poppies from people who have lived in the village all of their lives and from people who had lived here for just 1 week. Poppies came from people who now live in Australia, who still have links to Castleside, and we also had a large number from friends and family in Weardale and Yorkshire. Once the poppies where made we then had the mam- moth task of attaching them to the giant net, which would cover the frame, usually used for the Christmas tree lights. This is when our lovely community really stepped up to the mark. Castleside BP Scouts very kindly let us use their Head Quarters so we were able to spread out the net and invite people to come and help us to tie on the poppies. Every child from Castleside Primary School came and tied on a poppy, as did every scout and cub from 1st Castleside BP Scout group. Members of the WI and Castleside Village Hall joined residents to help with the display, usually over a cup of tea. The display was finally hauled into position, and was unveiled during a short ceremony in the Church garden. We were overwhelmed that over a hundred people came to watch the unveiling. A short dedication was made by Adam Pearson, the Chair of Healeyfield Parish Council and Rev Martin Jackson. Our Parish Clerk, Ruth Wright, together with two other members from Bishop Auckland Pipe Band played as residents tied poppies onto the net. The pipers then led us down to the village hall, where many more people were waiting. Together we all enjoyed a good old-fashioned tea dance, the highlight of which was the superb singing of Castleside School Choir. The project was a year in the making, with the ladies of the Parish Council living and breathing poppies, from knitting, to delivering wool, to collecting in the poppies and organizing the sewing on sessions. It has been a labour of love. Remembrance Sunday itself was marked by the annual Remem- brance service and the laying of wreaths at the war memorial, how- ever, this year, residents met outside of the Church and paraded to the churchyard, accompanied by John Stafford on the bagpipes. Again, the turnout was tremendous. Continued on page 4 Continued from page 3 Healeyfield Parish Council were then very proud to take part in "Battles Over, A Nations Tribute, WW1 Beacons of Light". Along with hundreds of other councils up and down the country we lit a specially made beacon in remembrance and commemoration of the end of WW1 and the many millions who were killed or came back terribly injured. We would like to thank Michael Forster and his wife Councilor Jo Forster for making this magnificent beacon for the village. We were delighted that over 300 people attended this very moving event. Following a short address by the Chairman of the Parish Council, the names of the fallen were read out followed by two minutes silence. Over the two weekends the people of Castleside proved that community spirit is thriving within our village, what better way to thank the brave men and women who went before us and sacrificed their tomorrows so we could have our today. Councillor Judith Robson Activities Activity Date Time Contact Neil Johnson Art Club th 7 pm - 9 pm 4 Wednesday 506451 Allen Carr Beginners Art Every Tuesday 1.15 pm - 3 pm 508698 Shirley Richardson Bingo Every Thursday 7 pm 508086 Bowls Wednesday 1.15 pm - 3.15 pm Kevin McNamee History Archives Thursday 10.30 am - 12.30 pm 509456 Kevin McNamee History Society Third Wednesday 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm 509456 David Dixon Monthly Dances Last Saturday 8 pm 509253 Parish Council Ruth Wright Last Thursday 6.30 pm Surgery 01388834000 Parish Council “ 7 pm “ David Dixon Village Hall Meeting st 7 pm 1 Monday 509253 W.I. Second Wednesday 6.30 pm - 9.30 pm Mavis Parker nd th David Dixon Dance Lessons 2 and 4 Monday of 7.30 pm every month 509253 Karate Lessons Brooke Every Tuesday 6.30pm - 7.30 pm (17yrs and under) 07460 377508 Age UK County Durham’s award winning Come Eat Together team held a free coffee morning on Thursday 7th March 2019 at Castleside Village Hall on Drover Road and welcomed anyone over 50 from the area for a free cuppa and a biscuit to find out how they could start a monthly lunchtime get together to enjoy good food with good company at the Village Hall. Andrea Goldie, Development Worker for Age UK County Durham said “We are hoping to set up a regular monthly lunch club in partnership with the Village Hall and we would love to welcome you to come along and find out more. Come along for a chat and help us create a local lunch club for local people”. Anyone who would like more information about the monthly lunch or to book a place please contact the Come Eat Together Team on 0191 374 6577 or email [email protected]. For their latest news, videos please go to www.comeeattogether.org.uk Castleside Village Crafters Only £3 per session If you would like to learn a new skill, or work on a UFO come and join us, and have a cuppa and chat at the same time. Our aim is to get people together so come and join us anyway for a cuppa and a natter We have Beginners Pottery starting at the end of April, please get in touch if you would like a place as it is on a first come first served basis and we are expecting it to be very popular. For further details contact Jackie: 07881 301 640 or Marion: 07940 703 819 or e mail: [email protected] What’s happened at Castleside School Pupils at Castleside Primary School have been spreading their wings over the past few months, enjoying enriching experiences and not- a-little success, too, beyond the boundaries of Consett and Derwentside. Miss Barrass and her brilliant school choir qualified for the Durham County Primary Schools Choir of the Year competition, held in Ushaw College’s magnificent chapel in December. The girls and boys sang their hearts out and ended up finishing third. “Their performance was outstanding,” said Miss Barrass and Mrs Gilbert, who also helps with Castleside’s cherubic band of singing angels! With the help of the multi-talented Mr Gilbert, there are plans afoot for the school choir to release a CD. Some recording sessions have already taken place at St John the Evangelist, so stay posted! Just before Christmas, the choir sang at the lighting of the Village Christmas tree.